Flanker Ardie Savea wins his 100th New Zealand cap, following teammate Codie Taylor to the landmark as the second All Blacks centurion in two weeks. With Scott Robertson shorn of three scrum halves due to injury, Finlay Christie is given the No 9 shirt with Kyle Preson awaiting a debut off the bench.
New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Fletcher Newell; 4 Scott Barrett (capt.), 5 Tupou Vaa’i; 6 Simon Parker, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Wallace Sititi; 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Beauden Barrett; 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Billy Proctor, 14 Emoni Narawa; 15 Will Jordan.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi; 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 September 2025 07:10
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson ready for clash of styles in Auckland
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson is ready for a clash of styles at Eden Park as he seeks an improved all-around showing from his side after defeat to Argentina last time out.
“We’ve had some parts of our game that have been awesome and then some parts we have to get better at, and it hasn’t quite all come together. It’s a good week to make it happen,” Robertson said this week.
“One plays two in the world; all eyes are watching. It’s exciting for us as a country. We’ve got a record we are proud of. We understand the figures, the history, the facts and the occasion. Human bodies get prepared by how the mind thinks, and half of New Zealand is coming.
“We know it’s coming, and that’s all part of the game. Rugby’s a game of strengths; they’ve got theirs and we’ve got ours—two different styles. We’ll back our skills, and they will play theirs, which have strengthened and earned them many trophies.”
Scott Robertson is anticipating a clash of styles at Eden Park (Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 September 2025 07:00
Recent success counts for little, stresses Cheslin Kolbe
South Africa are on a four-game winning streak against old foes New Zealand but face the daunting challenge of a Rugby Championship fixture in Auckland, which wing Cheslin Kolbe admits is a test of their indifferent form this season.
South Africa have had a mixed start to the defence of their title, with a stunning 38-22 loss to Australia at their own fortress of Ellis Park in Johannesburg, and a gritty 30-22 win over the same opponents in Cape Town.
Despite recent success over the All Blacks, including a 12-11 victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, facing the All Blacks at Eden Park, where the hosts have not lost since 1994 and the Springboks not won a Test since 1937, is a challenge on another level.
“The past is the past, for us it is quite simple. Every chance you get to play against New Zealand, with the history behind the fixture, is massive,” Kolbe told reporters in Auckland on Tuesday.
“We are playing against the number one team in the world currently and that is how you want to measure yourself as an individual and a team.”
South Africa beat New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup final (Getty Images)
Reuters6 September 2025 06:45
Argentina on top against Australia
The day’s first game of a Rugby Championship double helping is well underway in Townsville, where Argentina are in control having surged into a 21-7 lead over Australia – and playing some scintillating rugby. Wings Mateo Carreras and Bautista Delguy have both gone over for mighty fine scores, with the Pumas showing off their trademark ball movement to exploit a few backline vulnerabilities in the Wallabies defence.
(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 September 2025 06:37
This is the first of two meetings between New Zealand and South Africa this year, one of the sport’s defining contests always providing encounters to relish. In 2026, the two sides will begin a new touring agreement that will see the All Blacks take on the Springboks on South African soil in a series that is set to be sold with the tagline of “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” – exact details are still to be confirmed but a significant shake-up to southern hemisphere rugby is on the way.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 September 2025 06:30
All Blacks turn to ‘The Professor’ ahead of Springboks showdown in Rugby Championship
New Zealand are drawing on “gold nuggets” of wisdom from coaching guru Wayne Smith as they prepared for today’s heavyweight Rugby Championship clash against world champions South Africa at Eden Park.
Harry Latham-Coyle6 September 2025 06:15
Formidable Eden Park record on the line
It is 31 years since New Zealand were last beaten at Eden Park, today’s venue, a 50-match streak that began with an 18-all draw with South Africa. From World Cup glory in 2011 to a dramatic draw with the British and Irish Lions in 2017, the Auckland annals are deep and rich – and the Springboks are relishing the opportunity to try and snap the streak.
“The magnitude of the game is something that excites me,” stand-in captain Jesse Kriel told reporters on Friday.
“I think as a competitor, and most guys will say the same thing, you want to be involved in the biggest of test matches and this is right up there.
“You want to test yourself against the best, whether it’s in your position, or whether it’s (against a team higher) in the world rankings.
“It doesn’t get any bigger and any more exciting than this for a player.”
Eden Park is one of rugby’s great cathedrals (PA Archive)
Harry Latham-Coyle6 September 2025 06:05
New Zealand vs South Africa live
New Zealand and South Africa collide in a mighty meeting of southern hemisphere heavyweights as the pair renew their rivalry in a crunch clash. After shock defeats in rounds two and one respectively, this fixture, the first of back-to-back meetings, could well prove vital in determining the destination of this year’s Rugby Championship crown.
Kick off at Eden Park is at 8.05am BST.
South Africa and New Zealand tussle in Auckland (Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 September 2025 08:46